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Hispania. Volume 78, Number 4, December 1995

[918]

AATSP

Chapter News

Prepared by Juan R. Franco

Chapter Reports

Nebraska: Nebraska Chapter

The Chapter held its fall meeting at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on October 28,
1994. The business meeting was conducted by President Velda Hughes. The agenda included a
report by Elvira García on the national meeting in Philadelphia, the election of Judy Blakeman
as Vice-President, and a vote to increase our financial support of the Nebraska International
Language Camp.

Frances Hendrickson and Twila Gerdes gave an entertaining and informative talk on their
four-week summer visit in Cuernavaca, Mexico. They showed slides and transparencies as they
spoke of their many adventures in staying with a family, attending classes, and going on various
excursions.

Dr. Marie Trayer called for volunteers to work on writing foreign language standards for the
state of Nebraska. Dr. Trayer is project coordinator for a grant from the Nebraska Department
of Education to write and implement standards and frameworks for the state.

The chapter received greetings from Connie Magilton, who will begin her term as President
at the next meeting. Judy Blakeman will be VicePresident, with Debra Johnson remaining as
Treasurer and Elizabeth Nichols as Secretary.

Approximately 520 students took the National Spanish Examination in 18 schools in
Nebraska this past spring.

The spring meeting was not held as usual this year. However, some members were able to
attend the Central States Conference in Denver, Colorado.

Elizabeth Nichols

Texas: Llano Estacado Chapter

(Lubbock Area)

The Llano Estacado Chapter of AATSP held its Spring Meeting in the Qualia Room at Texas
Tech University on May 6, 1995. El cinco de Mayo was the decorative and social theme.
President Dr. Ted McVay opened the meeting, and the minutes of the Fall Meeting were read and
approved, as was the Treasurer's Report. Olivia Cervántez reported that there were 12 medal
winners in the National Spanish Examinations and all participants won an award. Linda
Heathington and Valerie Job reported on the Foreign Language Collaborative Meeting. The
Collaborative will offer a workshop for foreign language teachers on August 4, 1995. The
presenters will be Jim and Marlana Palmer, Spanish instructors from Tarrant County Junior
College (Northeast). Their emphasis will be on oral proficiency. Also, Dr. McVay reported that
Sigma Delta Pi is accepting donations from members for a scholarship fund.

Old business included the adoption of the bylaws presented to the members at the Fall
Meeting. The new officers, elected by acclamation, are: President, Dr. Harley Oberhelman; Vice
President, Tambra Neiman; Secretary, Valerie job; Treasurer, Becky McClure. The chapter
thanks the previous officers for their dedication and hard work.

Sigrid Carter, of Envoyé Travel, and her colleague Lee Lombardina provided members with
information concerning customized tour/travel groups and expressed their willingness to work
with teachers who wish to sponsor trips for students.

Dr. Isabel Guerra McSpadden, a self-employed interpreter/translator, provided information
and examples of her work. Dr. McSpadden emphasized the difference between the two: traducir
no es tan fácil y traducir no es interpretar. She explained that her career allows her to be
home-based, and communication with prospective employers occurs through the use of a PC, a
modem, and a fax machine. She stated that her career is enjoyable and lucrative.

The meeting was closed, and a social followed.

Valerie Y. Job

Texas: Lone Star Chapter

(Dallas/Fort Worth Area)

The Lone Star Chapter of the AATSP met Saturday, April 22, 1995, at the Dallas Museum
of Art. Chapter President Elias Rodriguez called the meeting to order and outlined the program
for the day.

Dr. Thomas Stephens, Associate Professor of Spanish at Rutgers University and member of
the Executive Council of the National AATSP, made a presentation to the chapter entitled
«Spanglish and U.S. Hispanicity», which included [919] a discussion of the definitions of
bilingualism, code-switching, transfer, borrowing, and syntactic adjustments. Several examples
of each led to a lively exchange with members of the audience.

Members were treated to a guided tour of the Educational Services and Resource Center
located at the museum and received information on programs available to individuals and to
classes, along with written materials. The second part of the tour included the museum's recent
exhibit of pre-columbian artifacts and displays.

After a short break, the meeting reconvened in the auditorium, where Dr. Juan R. Franco,
national chapter coordinator, encouraged those present to apply for one of the regional grants
being offered by AATSP for those who have not previously attended a national convention. He
also announced that the national convention in 1996 would be held in Orlando and the following
meeting in Nashville in the fall of 1997. Next, awards for service to the chapter were presented
to Dr. Julio Jiménez and Dr. Phillip Johnson, both of Baylor University, for 16 years as editor
of the newsletter and secretary-treasurer of the chapter respectively. The chapter recognized Juan
Franco for his long years of activity in and service to the chapter in many different capacities, and
Mercedes Hotz for her service as president of the chapter during 1993-1994.

Elías Rodríguez, coordinator of the National Spanish Examination, presented the annual
report. There were 1542 students participating at 20 different testing centers, representing 78
teachers and over 40 different schools. The chapter had 17 students receive first-place honors in
the various categories. Mr. Rodríguez received special recognition for his exceptional work with
the NSE again this year. Many improvements were noted this time with the administration of the
examination, due in large part to the good efforts of the national office.

Phillip Johnson gave the annual report of the chapter secretary. The minutes of last year's
meeting and the financial report were reviewed. The chapter has an increase of three members
this year over last year's paid membership of 140. The attendance of 54 members this year is an
increase of ten from last year.

James Palmer of Tarrant County Junior College (Northeast) and chairman of the Scholarship
Committee announced the meeting of the committee in Arlington to finalize the results of the
student interviews, which were subsequently announced as follows: The winners of the
four-week study scholarship to the Mexican Immersion Center in Cuernavaca, Mexico, were
Jonathan Keljo of the Cistercian School (student of Dr. Stephen Arndt) and Virginia Brandon
of Trinity Valley School (student of Suzanne Kramer). Both winners accompanied the Tarrant
County junior College group from June 2 through June 30, 1995. The winner of the $700
scholarship for pursuing a course in Spanish or Portuguese at the university level was Maha
Armush of the Hockaday School (student of Pam Hill). The chapter considered the option of
allowing junior level students to be eligible for the scholarship and voted in the affirmative.

The nominating committee, chaired by Pam Hill, proposed Marsha McFarland of J.J. Pearce
High School in Richardson to serve as vice president for the coming year. Pam Hill will serve
as president and the other officers will continue in their responsibilities.

After an expression of appreciation to the personnel of the Dallas Museum of Art and to
chapter president Elías Rodríguez, the members adjourned to lunch at Casa Domínguez in the
Dallas Arts District.